German reprisals could create a new resistance problem

Would Germany retaliate against the French population for Darlan taking the fleet to continue the war?

Germany would probably make many threats and do little in response to the fleet's departure, though some reprisals could still occur.

The Dutch, Norwegian, Belgian, and Greek forces fighting from exile provide comparisons for the French case. Much of the French Army would remain in France, and reprisals could reopen resistance after Germany had already knocked the country out of the war. Hitler's limited regard for naval power also makes the fleet's departure seem more immediately troublesome for Mussolini than for Germany. The expectation is therefore many threats and little action specifically over the departing fleet. Some Germans could still carry out reprisals, but these would create more problems than they solved.